"ENTER AQUA" TEXTILE PAINTING, BOOKS ABOUT HOUSES FOR SUMMER READING

"Enter Aqua"  14" X 11", Lori LaBerge  2018

Last week's post was about the design of this work. This week bright colors, houses and water are going through my mind as summer moves along. "Enter Aqua" contains all three of these. Bright colors of green, turquoise, pink and white dominate the central area. The turquoise building becomes reminiscent of water with a combination of vertical and horizontal lines through it. Houses surround the center welcoming one into the scene. 

Angles are everywhere in the underlayer of this work with more created from the painting on the top layer. The juxtaposition of straight lines against a few wavy or jagged lines lend an imperfect feel. The white lines were done by hand and left as they are for the same reason. 

Close-up of "Enter Aqua"

As summer moves along vacation is approaching. Our destination will be Maine and I started stacking a variety of books I can relax with (it is vacation after all) that contain houses as an important element. Here's the list (fiction and non-fiction):

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen-  a parody of the Gothic novels I read as a teenager and still love

The House of Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne- the story of the Pyncheon family and how a cursed house affects them

Death in the Castle by Pearl S. Buck-a story of a couple obsessed with their castle and their reluctance to let a buyer move it piece by piece to its new location

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle- a mystery is contained in the inheritance of a family home

The Murder at Hazelmoor by Agatha Christie- Guest are invited to Sittaford House and before they know it they are involved in a murder case

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James- a governess is hired to tend to two children at a country home as supernatural events begin to plague her

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton- A woman is not happy in her new home and received a miniature replica which she proceeds to furnish with the help of a miniaturist. Secrets become revealed.

A Mansion in the Mountains by Phillip T. Noblitt- Moses and Bertha Cone create a mansion off the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. (We have visited Blowing Rock Manor numerous times, the family made their fortune in denim in the textile industry.)

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett- A monk decides to build a great cathedral. Set in 12th century England.

The Glitter and the Gold by Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan- Consuelo Vanderbilt writes of life in aristocratic times, including Blenheim Palace where Churchill was born. (I picked this up on our first trip to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC)

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Anne Radcliffe- A classic early Gothic written in 1794. A woman's parents die, she is kept prisoner in a castle as her abductor looks for her to marry into money he can then possess. Lots of description and a tour de force of the psychological state of the characters.

Rebecca by Daphne de Maurier- A woman marries a man whose first wife drowned. The truth of her death evolves throughout the story. Mrs. Danvers is one of the best characters in fiction.

The Gormenghast Novels by Mervyn Peake- An odd assortment of characters live in Gormenghast Castle. This was a PBS series and the author is said to rival Tolkien though he never became as popular.

The Fate of the English Country House by David Littlejohn- The author covers a variety of country houses throughout England and discusses their downfall, use as tourist attractions and the importance of Britain protecting these homes along with their place in art history.

ON THE ROAD WITH ARCHITECTURE

Entry walkway into Fallingwater

We have been looking up architectural sites to visit on our travels. Having passed by Fallingwater numerous times, we took time to stop and make it a day. This home is well worth the time and the guides are wonderful.

Photos are not allowed inside the house and only at distance points for exterior shots. The home design shows the genius of Frank Lloyd Wright. The attention to detail is simply amazing.

A fireplace with a round container for heating cider, glass which opens on the living area floor with steps leading down to the water (soak your feet or go fishing), windows which span around corners and a desk designed so the long window next to it can be opened. Wright clearly was able to envision exactly what he wanted. A balcony wall off one bedroom was purposely low so one could lie in bed and the view would not be obstructed. Photos of these and more can be found here.

Fallingwater Rising tells the story of Wright's architectural journey with the house. The owners were the Kaufmann's (Kaufmann's store is now known as Macy's).

The Fellowship tells the story of Wright's apprenticeship program where he trained others. If you like real-life drama you can read about the murders which took place at Wright's Taliesin home in "Death in a Prairie House". The book jumps around a bit with confusion in parts but is hard to put down. We'll be visiting Taliesin in Wisconsin this summer. Note there is a Taliesin East  (Wisconsin) and a Taliesin West (Arizona).

Down the road from Fallingwater is Polymath Park. Duncan house by Wright and two homes by his apprentice, Peter Berndston are there. These were homes designed to be affordable to the middle class. They are available for rental for overnight stays. Another Wright house is being moved there and they are in the stages of planning for a winery on site.

Entrance to restaurant and ticket check at Polymath Park

A stained glass work from the gift shop has a new place in our home.

"NIGHT SWIM" TEXTILE ART

"Night Swim"  14" X 11"  Lori LaBerge  2018

Maybe its just the winter blues (another storm due this weekend), but I have been dreaming of water lately. Reading books about water, watching TV shows about water and making art about water have taken up this past week. There is something relaxing about it.

I read:

This book was picked up at an airport. It is the story of friendship, secrets kept, and the effect loss has on us. It is a fast read perfect for an afternoon on the couch. 

"Living on Water" by Phaidon books

A great coffee table book for those who love architecture. It speaks of how the placement of a house, by the water, affects the design process. Photos of homes that fit their surroundings perfectly.

I watched:

While flipping through Netflix shows, I came across Charlie Luxton's Homes by the Sea. This is a total binge watch for me. Luxton is an architect and designer who takes viewers on a tour of homes near the water, visits with owners and finds locations to sketch his own ideas out. There was a saying a while back to the extent that Britain may have rainy days and bland food but they have kick-ass TV. Love that! Their shows are so well done.

NEW ARCHITECTURAL ART "TURQUOISE GLOW", FLORIDA TRIP

"Turquoise Glow"  14" X 11",  Lori LaBerge  2017

A blue glow coming from a window was the start of this piece. Lines and shapes of concrete walls and sheds near the building were reshaped for the work. Two longer downward diagonals (the top of the green area and the lower black line) are balanced by a shorter upward white diagonal on the right which starts close to midway between them. 

It is interesting to work on balance without symmetry. It can be created from color, size, shape and opposites work quite nicely. Large vs. small, bright vs. dull, light vs. dark, vertical vs. horizontal, etc. The turquoise areas consist of one being horizontal, larger and darker and one being vertical, smaller and lighter.

We went to visit my son in Florida over the weekend and I took a few photos of rooftops in the area to use for future reference.

Great finds at the local used book store

Art Exercise--

Create a symmetrical design and start changing it to create an asymmetrical one using opposites for balance.

SKETCHING, DESIGN AND BOOKS IN MAINE

A sketch of one of the views from the cottage we rented in Maine,  Lori LaBerge  2017

We are back from vacation and it was wonderful. We rented a cottage in York with a view of the ocean and Nubble Lighthouse. It was relaxing to sit on the deck with a cold Maine craft beer and do some sketching. Rain held off, the water was beautiful and we were able to watch the lobster boats as traps were checked daily.

The outline of the rock formation was drawn blind contour (without looking at the paper being drawn on) then developed from there through regular sketching. Drawing blind contour helps to improve hand/eye coordination and increases observational skills as you are not constantly viewing back and forth between paper and subject. It can be difficult at first but becomes easier with practice.

 Some designs ideas worked on,  Lori LaBerge  2017

On the trip I became fascinated with the rooftops of ocean homes and boats. I studied some of the angles found and drew them out. Multiple scenes were combined into each of the works to form a composition. The circular windows on the boats added to the designs. I plan on hooking these as smaller works and then creating larger paintings of them. 

We found a local antique and used book store, Harding's Books in Wells, Maine. It was amazing. The aisles went on forever. I spent about two hours in the art section and purchased the books above. They include writings on Expressionism, women in art, Frank Stella, Salvador Dali and Paul Gauguin. If you are nearby at any point and love books it is a must stop as the store itself has so much more than the website offers.

Another purchase from Harding's that I am currently reading. Life is good!

THOUGHTS ON WOMEN IN THE ARTS

In reference to the works I posted from my visit to The Broad, a comment was made questioning "Why are they all men?". Good question. The works posted were by artists I have enjoyed and/or studied in college and beyond and they are all by men. A visit to The Broad's website and a search under the collection link will show they have a good selection of works by women. 

With a background in Art History, I can name quite a few women artists. However, when I asked some people without an art background how many they could name the list came up short (Georgia O'Keefe and Mary Cassatt topped the list and pretty much ended it) and they did not recognize at least three quarters of the names I mentioned.

 "Identity Unknown: Rediscovering Seven American Women Artists" by Donna Seaman

I love looking at art whether done by a man or a woman. I have juried art into shows by both men and women and have never known before hand whether the work was done by a man or a woman. I am interested in the art. Period. I have been in all women shows and have been one of few women in shows.

I find myself questioning all women shows at times. If men are at the top of the art world, shouldn't we be working toward showing our work beside theirs? If there is one thing I've learned from my husband, national rifle champion in 1991, multiple medal winner and coach of the U.S. team for eight years, it is to look toward those in front of you, watch and learn from them be it man or woman.

 "Ninth Street Women" by Mary Gabriel

Art should be an even playing field, but is it? The upper end of the art world has been moving slowly toward including more women in high end galleries and museum collections. At that level, art is a financial issue. Artists who are well-known tend to lead to large ticket sales. Ticket sales pay the bills. Will people go see women artists if, from my experience, they can't even name a handful of them?

"In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures of Women Artists in Mexico and the United States" by Ilene Susan Fort and Tere Arcq

If women's artwork is to get the recognition it deserves it needs to be supported and promoted. Museums need to be aware people are interested in women artists. Artwork by women needs to be purchased by top collectors. Women artists need resources to get their art out there.

 "Creating Their Own Image: The History of African American Women Artists" by Lisa E. Farrington

 "The Reckoning: Women Artists of the New Millennium" by Eleanor Heartney

So what can we do to help those women near the top of the art world so that they can pave the way for others? 

1.  Study work by current top women artists. Choose a few you really like and write them or go to one of their exhibits. Tell them how you relate to their work. Encourage them.

2.  Go to exhibits by women artists.

2.  Stop at the museum desk and ask about female artists. Are there any plans for solo exhibits of women artists in the future.

3.  Write to galleries after a solo exhibit by a woman artist or after seeing individual works by women.

4.  Write to magazines who have articles on women artists. Make sure you focus on the work, not just the artist being female.

"Shadow Weave: Chiral Fret Wave" by Tauba Auerbach

A woven canvas work by Tauba Auerbach photographed during our visit to The Broad.

I would like to thank the writer of last week's comment. 

GIVING A TITLE TO ARTWORK

"Metropolitan" body section hooked and ready for pressing,  Lori LaBerge  2016

With a full week of jury duty, work was limited. I found time in the evening to finish hooking on the body section of the latest work. I also decided to name the piece "Metropolitan".

Titles can be important to viewers and it took me a while to name this work. I like a title that people can relate to and perhaps help them to see something in the work. A title should not give a total explanation of the work, but allow the viewer to experience the piece on their own. 

Close-up of "Metropolitan". Photos allow a better sense of where tweaking is needed, there are a few spots I'll correct

We have been on the road extensively this year and the piece shows the city blocks we have maneuvered along with their corresponding highways and overpasses. Many others have had the same experience. I like that people can recall their own memories of travel through the road pieces I've created.

One title of a work that starts a series can lead to many more. Future titles I have in mind refer to roads we have driven. "Neck of the Woods" from our experiences four-wheeling in our Jeep through the back roads of the mountains is one example. "Pacific Coast Highway", and "Rodeo Drive" will derive from visiting our daughter in the L.A. area. I look forward to delving into the colors that surround each of these areas and incorporating them in the work.

 "Louise Nevelson-Light and Shadow"  by Laurie Wilson

I know very little about Louise Nevelson except that I have loved her work forever and who can resist a woman who dresses like the one on that cover.  I really need to spice up my closet. Anyone for a Louise Nevelson party? Nevelson is known for her monochromatic wall pieces made from wood. I have this weekend all to myself, so I plan on settling down and getting a good chunk of reading in. You can see examples of her work at Artsy.

Art Exercise-

Look over titles you have chosen for your works or look at titles on the internet or in museums.  Do they make you think about the piece, bring back memories or relate to your experiences in any way?

ABSTRACT FIGURE RUG HOOKING, NEW BOOKS

 Untitled work in progress

Work was started on a new figural abstract this week. There are six values of gold in the curves.  Blending was a problem with the transition of some values. There is a sharp line where values 3 and 4 meet in the longer curve which bothers me. I'll be pulling out and rehooking those areas to smooth it out. The hooking within the curve is being done randomly rather than with straight hooking.

I'm headed to Vermont so I picked up a couple new books: 

The Art of Rivalry by Sebastian Smee

The author writes of the rivalries between Manet and Degas, Picasso and Matisse, Freud and Bacon and de Kooning and Pollock. These artists had friendships, but competitiveness led to arguments, separations and brilliant creations of art. They had great respect for each other, but friction abounded in their relationships.

Mad Enchantment by Ross King

Mad Enchantment tells the story of Monet's creation of the Water Lily series. It tells of the problems he faced when working out how light and color affected the appearance of water. It delves into the fading of Impressionism as other painting movements evolved.  I'm hoping this book will give me some extra ideas for the plein air class I will be teaching at Green Mountain Rug School next year.

I will be off for two to three weeks due to the death of my mother. We sang and danced, laughed and loved, vacationed and dined together. Dad and I will raise our glasses to a great lady.

SCULPTURAL TEXTILE ART "SANCTUARY"

 "Sanctuary" in progress, 15" X 11" X 8"  Lori LaBerge 2016

I had to think about creating sculptural pieces for the July landscape show.  I began to think about my many walks through the woods.  What if during a walk something unexpected appeared in front of me?   Something I could explore in the landscape.  "Sanctuary" is the first result of that thinking process.

The work consists of industrial felt, yarn, thread, beads, copper crimps, a fishing sinker, washers, a bolt and paint.  

 Close-up of upper portion

An opening was created and beads and a sinker were placed inside.  I found that the felt had to be cleaned as it shed heavily when I began work.  I vacuumed and used a lint roller to clean off as much fuzz as possible.  It would be best to use a mask if you attempt this process to prevent breathing in too much felt dust.

 Back portion in progress

As I usually work in 2-D, I finish the back of pieces but don't have to worry about how they are viewed.  3-D presents the added concern of how the piece looks from all angles.  I am in the process of creating a ladder for the backside of the piece.  This will be painted and stitched to the felt.  Fishing lures will be stitched on either side of the top of the ladder.  The above photo gives an idea of how they will be placed.

I have also been enjoying two new books that arrived this week:

"Alberto Burri: The Trauma of Painting" by Emily Braun and others

Burri's work consists of deconstructing in order to reconstruct in a new way.  His work and time spent as a war time doctor are seen in his method of art.  One can see fragments of burlap and clothing with torn edges roughly stitched together.  The rawness of the work is quite startling at some times.  He also worked with wood, steel, tar and plastic.  The use of materials unexpected to the canvas presents a unique approach to collage work. 

"destroy the picture: painting the void 1949-1962" by Paul Schimmel

This book focuses on an exhibition of post-war deconstructivism.  It goes well with the Alberto Burri book mentioned earlier and his work is included in this book also. The effect of wars is brought out in these artists' works as one sees battered canvases representing the feelings of the artists as their world changed. These are works that can have a profound effect on the viewer once the context is understood. 

The question "What if?" is one of the best gifts an artist can give him or herself.  Let this question lead you to new explorations in your work and have a great day.

GEOMETRIC ABSTRACT "SWAY" STARTED AND ARTIST BOOKS

First section of  "Sway", 11 X 11  Lori LaBerge  2015

The first section of a two part work for the Connection series has been hooked.  The greens are my favorite part of this.  It took a while to dye the colors needed, especially the mint shade of green.  Through a mix of multiple dyes, I finally achieved what I was looking for. 

I always receive some art related gifts for my birthday and, thankfully, this year was no different.

From my daughter:

Mark Rothko: A biography by James E. B. Breslin

Rothko's work is fascinating.  What appears to be three colors suddenly merges into layers of color when viewed up close.  It will be interesting to read about his early years as I haven't read much on his beginnings in art.

  Inside the Artist's Studio by Joe Fig

This book is set up in a question and answer format.  Joe Fig asks up and coming artists questions about their work, process, early interests in art, etc.  Love these kind of books as they don't have to be read in any specific order and can be easily read even when you don't have extended time to devote to reading.

From my son:

This is always a great gift.  A variety of drawing pencils of difference softness and hardness, charcoals, a sketching stick, erasers and sharpeners along with a sketch pad. I'm planning on using these with a drawing course I have ordered.

Have a great day, enjoy the holidays and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

"MISSING WINDOWS" COMPLETED, FRANK AUERBACH BOOK

"Missing Windows"  36" x 60"  Lori LaBerge  2015

The hooking on "Missing Windows" was completed early this morning.  Finishing work will still need to be done.  As I usually pop in a movie when finishing a piece, I may have to look for a very long movie for this one.  It is the first in the "Forgotten Windows" series. 

While reading about signatures of tapestry artists in the 15th to 18th centuries, I kept thinking I wanted to do something different to sign the pieces in the window series.  I decided a door plate will be placed in the corner of each of the works.  The doorplate reminds me of entry to the buildings the windows are in as well as entry to the artwork itself.  The doorplate above still needs to be stitched to the hooking and signed with my signature. This will also be in keeping with the use of metal in my work. 

   "Frank Auerbach: Speaking and Painting" by Catherine Lampert

I also started reading a book on Frank Auerbach this week and am having a hard time putting it down.  His paintings of portraits and urban landscapes have always intrigued me as they are created with thick paint with a strong tactility and emotion to them.  The book goes into Auerbach's views on painting, on art schools, on his method of working, on advice to art students, along with many other views.

"Missing Windows' took me six months due to recovery from surgery and other pieces being worked on.  Enjoy the process, don't worry about the time it takes and have a great day. 

ABSTRACT FIGURE DESIGN FROM THE EVERYDAY, BOOKS ON THE NIGHTSTAND

"How Small We Really Are",  8 X 12  Lori LaBerge  2014

Today was supposed to be yard cleaning day.  I did get some sweeping done and a few weeds pulled up, but when I walked behind the shed on the property I spotted this:

Last year, the landscapers had to redo a portion of our stone wall.  When they removed some of the stones the glued areas had formed circles on the back.  It is funny how an everyday item can give you a design idea.  I usually work at the design process and rarely does an idea go from in my head to a finished product quickly. Today was the exception.  I knew immediately upon seeing the stone what I wanted to do for a design.  Needless to say, the yard work was done for the day.

The design would include an abstract figure and be titled "How Small We Really Are".  It would require earthy colors.  I went to the studio shelf and found a blue purple for the figure along with white for the head.  The background would be a dull/antique looking red and be mixed with yarns of similar colors along with specks of the blue purple.  Dark brown would be used for some contrast in the background. The circle shapes would be a mottled green.      

I drew out the design freehand, looking at the circles on the stone as I was drawing. The idea was for the figure to be surrounded by the many worlds we live in everyday and portray how we are but a small part of everything that goes on around us.

The circles were in a 6-cut and progressed at a fair pace.  The figure and background were a 4-cut an went slightly slower.  I was surprised when the hooking was completed (see top photo on this post) early evening. A trip to the yarn store may be in order for whipping the edges.

Pete and I returned from our trip up north Thursday night and I found some books I had ordered waiting for me.  I have not had time to read them yet but on the nightstand now are:

I have been thinking about adding large areas of embroidery stitches to some work. I'm the type that likes a lot of photos along with written instructions and from the book preview "The Stitch Bible" by Kate Haxell fit the bill.  Hopefully, I'll be able to try some stitches soon.

Of course, as I was searching for books on stitching, I came across another purchase.  "Celebrating the Stitch" by Barbara Lee Smith showcases the work of serious fiber artists and has great photos.  Since it was printed in 1991, it is available at a good price.  The book includes artists' thoughts on design, process, construction, color, stitching, etc.

"String, Felt, Thread" by Elissa Auther was recommended by a good friend.  It is in the academic vein, which I love.  It speaks of the art-craft issues and fiber as high art. 

Find an everyday item to use for a new design, find a good fiber art related book to curl up with in the evenings and have a great day.